The Kat Eye View of the World - Kat Eye Studio

June 7, 2011 by Kat

Coming and Going

While wandering around Inverness trying to find a restaurant one evening, we passed this church graveyard. I was fascinated by the old stones, you could read as far back as the 1800’s but there were definitely some that were older and unreadable. I could imagine people visiting here, searching out their ancestors and doing grave rubbings. I remember doing that with my mom as a child on a visit to her roots somewhere in the midwestern USA.

There is such a focus on heritage and history in Scotland, it made me wish I has some Scottish in me so that I could be part of it. Genealogy centers, clan history books and tartans… all welcoming people back to their roots. Patrick‘s great-grandfather was from Scotland, with the surname Barron. We had a time of it trying to find anything on this name, but eventually discovered it was part of the Rose clan and there was a tiny bit more on them. Apparently, Rose or Barron were not the most prolific of clans from the little we could find. But that small little connection for Patrick and Brandon made it a bit more fun.

The Picture Inspiration prompt this week was “double vision,” on diptychs using photos of the same thing from two different perspectives. I liked this gravestone from the two perspectives, and putting them together in this way created a stronger emotion. I couldn’t quite describe it, but one of my classmates commented, “I like the flare and blurriness in the one on the left. Reminds me of the mystery of death. And the one on the right is so black and white like life and death.” I like her description, it puts something concrete to the feeling of the images.

What feeling do you get when you look at this pairing?

June 6, 2011 by Kat

A Gentle Twist

This morning on my walk in Parco di Monza I noticed the tree trunks along the path. I noticed how some trees grow straight and tall while others have a gentle twist. Why is that, I wonder?

If you know the scientific answer, don’t tell me. That was a rhetorical question. I would rather envision these stately trees reaching and stretching for the sun with gentle yoga-like twist to keep them energized.

Seeing the twist in the trees comes from the one and only sketch I did last week on our visit to Scotland. Much of the time it was windy and it rained off and on, so I wasn’t standing or sitting in any one place long enough to sketch anything outdoors until our last day in Edinburgh. We went to the botanical garden on a gorgeously sunny day where I found this interesting tree trunk. I sat and sketched the form of it – the details of texture and leaves are beyond me at this point, I’m afraid.

The best part of this drawing is not how it looks; the best part is what it helped me see today. This morning, as I was walking and noticing the twists of the tree trunks, I was very grateful to all that art has brought into my life. It doesn’t matter the art form, all of it helps me to see the world around me in different ways and capture it in my own way. Whether it’s photography or drawing or painting or words, that’s what I’m doing, isn’t it? Seeing, interpreting, and then sharing it here.

(Linking in to Creative Every Day and The Creative Exchange today. Happy Monday!)

June 5, 2011 by Kat

The Color and Texture of Paint (+ Swap Update)

I bet you thought you were going to see peeling paint in today’s image, from the title of my post, and knowing what I love. Wrong! I’ve been neglecting to share good, colorful, fresh paint too. For equal opportunity, today I give you this wonderful color from a shop front inside the Victorian Market in Inverness. Aren’t the colors and textures of this paint just delicious? It was the shop front of a flower shop and the riot of color was fun, but I focused on simplifying things down to this architectural detail. In addition to color and texture, there is also some great shape and form here, I always love that too.

Along with this cheery image for your Sunday morning, I’ll also give you a cheery Liberate Your Art Postcard swap update. The final count for sign up is at 254 people in the swap! Wow!! That’s 1270 pieces of art that will be winging their way around the world shortly. Add to that, the 254 postcards I will be sending for meeting the goal of 200 participants. It may sounds crazy, but I can’t wait to get on it. I’m so excited for this, it fills me with such happiness. So many people have mentioned that they are getting out of their comfort zone to sign up and do this – I’m so proud of you all for putting your art out into the world!

For those of you signed up, all of the swap details will be sent to you via email later this week. Until then, be sure to visit some of your fellow participants on our AMAZING participant link list! Pick two or three links, stop by and say hi this week to a few artists in the swap. (If you’re signed up, it’s not to late to have your link added. Just drop me an email with your link.)

Enjoy your Sunday!

Links added since last blog update:

Marie OteroShelley ShockleyBrain Angles – Invisible InkMosey AlongApril Cole’s StudioJo Murray – ArtWith Renewed EyesZentangles & StuffmichellereneFleeting MomentsJournaling through PhotosStefanie ReneeAlison BehnGramma’s Little CornerThe WhimzymeincaMoon’s Musings
All the rest of the links – wow!!How to Feather an Empty Nest Learning as I GoPaloma ChaffinchFiberworksAshley Sisk’s Ramblings and PhotosJenny ShihLife @ RuffHavenkharliebugHere and NowLiving in a Still LifeBastelmaniaDonna Did ItLeft in Front of RightThe Red TinAltered Muse ArtDreams and WhispersMaddy’s Stitching CornerSimply Life PhotographsPointy PixNatasha MayThe Vintage ArtistDigital Experiments by CarolynWJC’s Digital DesignsCreating my Lifeicandyi wanna be me when i grow upGiddy-Up Let’s RideThe Creative IdentityElizabeth GLZJofabi PhotoA New Day, A Different WayA Rural JournalAlchemy of ArteyechaiPicturing the YearSuperdewaHounds in HeavenBleuOiseau PhotographyAquarel RiversThe Wright StuffThe Mrs.Urban Muserdeustchemexicana{Furi Kuri}TravelsA Little Blue Skycarola bARTzSame Day: Thirty Years ApartCamperCottage 960Nomadic NotebookWell of CreationsCindyLew’s StudioOm2ArtHysong DesignsThe Weekend Photo WarriorTina’s TreeThe Studio 56Kristen WalkernaperieRosie GreyThis Life through the LensNot Everyone Has FilmSloane Solanto: A Colorful LifeRavenous RaesassyangelacMy Midlife CreativitiesMakieDollTracy Swartz, Whimsical Gourd ArtOne Thousand PaintingsOne Little PromiseAmber Leigh JacobsMarie Z. JohansonThe Queen of CreativityExpressive WorldRandom Thoughts Do or “Di”Lyrical JourneyKaren Koch, Life Needs ArtMy Sweet Prairiedye~ing to be yoursKnottyneedlemy heart artODDImaginationCrafty CreativityJenna Kannas InspirationsGoing a Little CoastalStarry Blue SkyQuilting, Calle and other thingsMatthew and LarissasightspecificStudio MailboxArtimagicaPoetic MappingSimple MansionBy JenPaper BirdMusings of a HennaphileShe Dreams of the SeaThe Little Things…Tangerine Megamaze, surprise & delightlove PEASStraightlinezKristen Laudick PhotographyGrandma’s Recipe BoxHeartwork PhotographyDixon HillJust me and my ArtMia Makes…Cosrard & PenpenI miei due bambiniSpecial Moments in TimeSuch stuff as dreams are made onPasandoDarlene Cunnup PhotographyPeach CogloOne Woman, ReinventedCreative ExplorerBren’s Bright CornerJillsy Girl StudioBahamaDawnToday is a GiftMy Consuming Passions

June 4, 2011 by Kat

Scotland is…

Dramatic skies
Church steeples
Green hillsides
Rain then sun then rain
Plaid and kilted
Friendly
Bagpipes
Bloody history
Lochs and firths
Castles
Lilting accents
Hearty food
Lots of fun

We are back from our relaxed week in Scotland, where the weather was amazingly warm and sunny the last couple of days. I even got a bit of sunburn! Back in Italy it’s grey and rainy, so my sunburn will fade fast. I can feel it disappearing already.

This image is from our first evening in Inverness, one of the times the sun popped out right before sundown. I loved the dramatic light and dark contrast found in the sky and the churches. Just one of the many skies we witnessed on this trip, it was ever changing. I’m just starting to go through my pictures and I look forward to sharing more this week!

Don’t forget, today is the last day to sign up for the Liberate your Art Postcard Swap. Tomorrow I’ll share the final count and the updated link list. I’m so excited!

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